Can I Junk My Car with No Title?

In most circumstances, you can junk your car with no title. You will, however, be responsible for showing proof of ownership of the vehicle before it can be sold or junked.

Here are some solutions for junking a car without a title:

Request a Duplicate

If the only issue is loss of title, simply contact your local motor vehicles commission and ask for a duplicate. They keep auto titles on file and can often get you a copy the same day you request it. You’d just have to pay a small fee.

Apply for a Replacement Certificate Title

When selling your junk car to out-of-state junk car buyers, you may be required to obtain a replacement certificate title. This is so that you can assign ownership of the car to the new buyer.

Affidavit in Lieu of a Title

There are cases when the DMV does not have a copy of the title on file. If so, you may need to request an affidavit in lieu of a title. This is simply a legal document that will show that you are in fact the true owner of the car. To provide an affidavit, the DMV will need to see proof that you’re the car owner. The proof can include documents like the bill of sale, a copy of an auto loan, or car insurance documents.

Use Your Registration

Junk car buyers like Sell My Car Online can work with car owners without a title. If you have valid registration, this can often serve as proof of ownership.

Contact the Bank or Loan Company

Do you not have your car title because you still owe money on your car? The titleholder is essentially the bank or loan company where you took out your car loan. Your title won’t be released until the balance has been paid in full. To obtain the title from the bank or loan company, contact them to find out the loan’s remaining balance. You can either pay that balance out of pocket and receive the title or you can junk the car. With the latter, you can use the money from the sale to pay off the balance. Then you can mail the title to the new buyer.

When You Can’t Junk Your Car Without a Title…

There are certain circumstances in which you simply cannot junk your car without a title.

There’s No Paper Trail – If your junk car has never been documented, as in licensed, insured, and registered, finding a way to prove ownership is nearly impossible.

The Car is in Someone Else’s Name – If the car title is in someone else’s name, legally, you cannot junk the car without that person’s consent. Your best bet would be to try and contact them and explain why you want to junk the car. See if they’d be willing to sign over ownership.

You Owe More Than You Can Earn – Let’s say you still owe $5,000 on your car loan, but your car is now junk for whatever reason. If all you can get for the car is $2500, and you don’t have additional funds to add to it, then you cannot junk your car, because the new buyer cannot take over ownership.

We understand wanting to get rid of a junk car. However, there are processes in place to ensure you do it legally. If you don’t have the title to your car, you can prove ownership in other ways. If, however, the car happens to belong to someone else, or you owe too much on the vehicle, junking it is not going to work in your favor.

No title? No problem. Sell My Car Online offers cash for your junk car if you can prove you’re the owner. Call our agents today at (855) 929-0828 to find out more about junking your car without a title.